WEYMOUTH, Mass. - John J. Savage, Jr., of Weymouth, Mass. died Friday, Feb. 27, 2015, after a long illness. John worked for Price Waterhouse in Boston, State Mutual Insurance Company of America (Worcester office), Bausch & Lomb in Rochester, N.Y., and Insilco Corp. in Meriden, Conn. Predeceased by a nephew, Dudley Savage, John is survived by his wife, Gail, of Weymouth, Mass.; his brother, Thomas L. Savage, of Weymouth, Mass.; and his sister-in-law, Judy Savage, of Osterville, Mass. Also his children, James Savage and wife, Sarah of Rozet, Wyo., Mary Savage-Dunham and husband, Jeffrey, of Weymouth, Mass., Peter Savage and wife, Sharlene, of Cheshire, and Amy Savage-Patterson and husband, Stanley, of Rhinbeck, N.Y. His beloved grandchildren, Sallyrose, Autumn, Luke and Ethan; his nephew, Thomas Savage, of Osterville, Mass.; his grand-nephew, Thomas Savage, of Dorchester, Mass.; as well as several nieces and nephews. Services are being be held in Massachusetts. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be sent to the Weymouth Lodge of Elks 2232 - PER Scholarship Fund, c/o Frank Barone, 1197 Washington St./PO Box 125, S. Weymouth, MA 02190-0005. See www.Keohane.com for directions and online condolences or call (781) 335-0045.

MERIDEN - Robert H. Schipke, former resident, died on Friday, Jan. 30, 2015, in Clearwater, Fla. Son of the late Robert N. and Ethel (Gibney) Schipke. He leaves his wife, Trish; a daughter, Tracy; brother, Andrew J. Schipke and his family, of New Jersey; his aunt, Rose E. Schipke, of Meriden. Burial was private.

KENSINGTON - Ronald J. Schmitt, 81, of Kensington, passed away on Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2015, surrounded by his loving family at the Hospital of Central CT in New Britain. He was the loving husband of Ann M. (Krenos) Schmitt for 56 years. The son of the late Severin G. Schmitt and Irene (Crowley) Schmitt, he was born in New Britain, on Sept. 14, 1933. He attended local schools in that city. He received his bachelor of science degree from Central Connecticut State University in secondary education, a master of arts degree in secondary education in guidance and an advance study diploma in secondary education in administration from the University of Connecticut. Additional graduate credits in management were earned from Rensellaer Polytechnical Institute. In addition to his wife Ann, he leaves four children and their spouses, Edward J. Schmitt and his wife. Margaret. of Kensington, Lawrence J. Schmitt and his wife. Diann. of Middletown, Karen M. Henderson and her husband. Scott of Newington, and Diane M. Schmitt. of Berlin. Also his grandchildren, Stephanie and Renee Sawyer, Michael and John Blancato, Tyler and Natalie Schmitt, Garrison and Eric Schmitt, and Alex Henderson. He also leaves a brother, Norman Schmitt, of Berlin; a brother-in-law, John Krenos and his wife, Beth, of New Brunswick, N.J. Mr. Schmitt taught business education classes at East Hartford High School, and was the head of the guidance department at Penney High School in the that city; Dean of Boys, vice principal and first assistant principal at East Hartford and Penney High Schools retiring in 1992. He also taught in the East Hartford Adult Education program and Glastonbury Summer School. He was an educational consultant and a Kelly Associates for several years with Connecticare HMO. He was a past member of the East Hartford Lions Club; Phi Delta Kappa honorary educational fraternity; and a member of Association of Retired Teachers. He also was a St. Joseph Church of New Britain School Board Member, and a president for many years of its Parish Council, A member of the Donau Austrian Society of New Britain and many professional educational organizations. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army having served with the 6th Army Headquarters and Army Security Agency in Arlington, Va. An avid golfer, hiker, and voracious reader particularly on the history of World War II and supporter of all his grandchildrens activities, He enjoyed traveling and his summer home at Point O' Woods in Old Lyme during his retirement years. Ron was a family man first and foremost and most proud of all his children and grandchildrens accomplishments. Telling this to all he met. He was seen as a mentor, role model, and a very religious person. The heavens have just received a most devout angel. Funeral services were held Saturday, Feb. 21, from the Farrell Funeral Home, 110 Franklin Square, New Britain with a Mass of Christian burial at St Paul's Church, 461 Alling St., Berlin. Burial will follow in Maple Cemetery, Berlin. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Paul's KGS Fund. To light a candle or send a condolence, please visit www.FarrellFuneralHome.com.

HAMDEN - Alex Shoag, 91, of Hamden, formerly of Meriden, passed away at Yale New Haven Hospital on Monday, Feb. 23, 2015. Alex was born in Vilna, Poland on March 8, 1923, the son of the late William and Rachel (Levine) Shoag. His parents relocated to Buenos Aires, Argentina in 1924, where they remained until emigrating to the U.S. in September 1928. Alex was educated in the Meriden school system, graduating from Meriden High School in 1941. Following his graduation, he entered the U.S. Navy where he served for two years as an interpreter for German prisoners of war at the Sampson Naval Base in the Finger Lakes region in New York. Following his discharge from the U.S. Navy in 1944, and a lover of animals, Alex began his college career at Middlesex Veterinary College, now Brandeis University, intending to pursue a career in veterinary medicine. He later elected to change his career path toward his passion for history entering Ohio State University, graduating in 1948, with a bachelor of arts degree in history and political science. After completing the Teachers' Emergency Program at Southern Connecticut Teachers' College, Alex began his career in 1950, as a teacher of history in the Moodus school system. He earned a masters' degrees in European history from UConn, as well as a masters' degree in education and Sixth-Year in administration from the University of Hartford. In 1957, he served as the Director of Education at the Wethersfield State Prison helping to create a combined academic and vocational program for the prison population. Alex was hired by the East Hartford school system in 1959, as a middle school history teacher before transferring to George J. Penney High School where he remained through his retirement in June 1991. He leaves behind a daughter, Deborah Shoag and her companion, Richard Backman, of South Windsor; and a granddaughter, Rayna Shoag-Backman and (Joshua Ehrenfeld,) of Manchester. He is also survived by two sisters, Phyllis Sochin (Herman,) of Meriden, Barbara Gross, of Wallingford; a very special nephew, Bennett Sochin (Patti) and their children, Joshua and Rebecca, of Seekonk, Mass.; niece, Judy Sochin, of Meriden; nephew, Robert Gross (Deborah), niece, Lesley LeClair (Steve,) both of Wallingford; and his long-time companion, Joanne Fox, of Manchester. A funeral service will be held on Thursday, Feb. 26, at 10 a.m. at the B.C. Bailey Funeral Home, 273 S. Elm St. Wallingford, with Rabbi Bruce Alpert officiating. Burial will be at a later date. Those wishing to make contributions may do so to the Hamden Animal Control, 2900 Dixwell Ave., Hamden, CT 06518. To leave a message of remembrance or for direction please visit www.BCBailey.com.

NORTH HAVEN - Vincent J. Snurkowski, 88 of North Haven passed away Monday, Feb. 16, 2015, at the Middlesex Hospital. He was the husband of Anna Guido Snurkowski. Vincent was born in New Haven on Jan. 30, 1927, son of the late Frank and Pauline Modzelewski Snurkowski; served his country faithfully in the U.S. Navy during World War II; had worked as an iron worker for Local 424, was a member of the American Legion-Murray/ Reynolds Post 76 and a devoted parishioner of St. Therese Church. He was the father of Vincent J. (Deborah) Snurkowski, Jr., Joseph Snurkowski, the late Robin D. Snurkowski and Lauren Taylor; grandfather of Suzanne Dozier, Wendi Taylor, Richard and Robert Snurkowski; brother of Sister Bernadette, Michael Snurkowski and the late Cecelia Sepkowski, Barbara "Vicki" Osborne, Louise Laraby, Charles, Edward, Frank and John Snurkowski. He was also survived by a great-granddaughter; and three great-grandsons. Vincent's family extends their sincere thanks and appreciation for the caring and loving staff at Middlesex Health Care Center (Soundview Community) and Middlesex Intensive Care & Hospice Units. His funeral procession left the North Haven Funeral Home, 36 Washington Ave.e, Saturday, Feb. 21. A Mass of Christian burial was celebrated at St. Therese Church. Interment with full military honors was followed at All Saints Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, Kansas 66675. www.northhavenfuneral.com